Slow cooker taco meat is a meal prep favorite. You season the beef, let it simmer, and end up with a big batch of juicy filling for tacos, burrito bowls, nachos and more. It is also easy to freeze, so one cooking session can cover several meals. For a plan that uses a batch across the week, see how to meal prep for the week.
Ingredients
For about 8 to 10 servings:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (about 8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth or water
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of cayenne (optional)
Short on spices? Use about 3 tablespoons of store-bought taco seasoning in place of the individual spices, and adjust the salt since packets vary.
How to cook taco meat in a slow cooker
- Brown the beef. Cook the beef and onion in a skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains, breaking it into small crumbles. Add the garlic for a minute. Drain the fat.
- Mix the seasonings with the tomato sauce and broth in the slow cooker.
- Add the beef and stir.
- Cook. Cover and cook on Low for about 2 to 4 hours or on High for about 1 to 2 hours. The beef is already cooked, so you are mostly simmering the flavor in.
- Stir and adjust. If it looks soupy, cook with the lid off for the last 20 to 30 minutes. If it is dry, add a splash of broth.
Can I put raw ground beef in a crockpot for tacos?
You can. Put the raw beef in the slow cooker, break it up well, add the seasonings and liquid, and cook until it reaches 160°F (71°C) and no pink remains. Break it up again with a spoon or potato masher partway through. Expect softer, finer crumbles and more grease, which you can spoon or drain off at the end. The texture is more like shredded beef than skillet-style taco meat.
How long does it take to cook taco meat in a slow cooker?
With pre-browned beef, about 2 to 4 hours on Low or 1 to 2 hours on High is typical. With raw beef, plan for roughly 3 to 4 hours on High or 5 to 6 hours on Low, until the meat is cooked through. Cookers differ, so verify with a thermometer.
What is the best way to cook taco meat in a crockpot?
For flavor and texture, brown first, drain, then slow cook in a small amount of liquid so the seasoning thickens into a clingy sauce. If you want less hands-on time, add raw beef and break it up early. Either way, avoid too much liquid, since a slow cooker does not reduce sauces much.
Can you make tacos in a slow cooker?
Yes. The slow cooker is great for the filling. Warm tortillas or hard shells separately, then set up a toppings bar so everyone can build their own. For a hands-off weeknight, keep the meat on the warm setting while you chop toppings.
Serving ideas
- Tacos. Corn or flour tortillas with lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa, sour cream and avocado.
- Burrito bowls. Over rice with beans, corn and salsa.
- Nachos. Spoon over tortilla chips and top with cheese.
- Taco salad. Over greens with crushed tortilla chips.
- Stuffed peppers. Use it as a filling; see slow cooker stuffed peppers.
- Quesadillas and baked potatoes. Great for using leftovers.
Storage, freezing and leftovers
- Refrigerate leftover taco meat within two hours in an airtight container. It keeps for three to four days.
- Freeze cooled meat in flat freezer bags, labeled with the date, for up to about three months. Flat bags thaw quickly in the refrigerator.
- Reheat on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of water or broth, until steaming hot (165°F).
Frozen raw ground beef should be thawed before being added to the slow cooker, so plan ahead.
Tips for the best taco meat
- Use 80 to 85 percent lean beef for flavor, and drain well.
- Toast the dry spices in the skillet for 30 seconds with the beef for a deeper flavor.
- Add a squeeze of lime at the end to brighten it.
- Use a potato masher to break the beef into fine crumbles.
For more ground beef slow cooker meals, see our slow cooker ground beef recipes guide. If you like saucy sandwiches on the same night, try sloppy joes in the Crockpot.